I think of myself as a creative thinker and technologist. I help to design and create specialized technology and equipment with the aim of making people's lives better/easier. I am most well known for working with Stephen Hawking and providing him with specialized computer equipment to improve his communication speed. Through my work at Intel and other organizations, my aim is to help people with disabilities thrive.
CAREER
Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$95,300
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+10.2% (faster than the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists Do
Design objects, facilities, and environments to optimize human well-being and overall system performance, applying theory, principles, and data regarding the relationship between humans and respective technology. Investigate and analyze characteristics of human behavior and performance as it relates to the use of technology.
Other Job Titles Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists May Have
Consulting Ergonomist, Ergonomist, Human Factors Engineer, Occupational Ergonomist
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
I lead physical and digital experience design on the Star Wars Force Band. I work directly with project leads and technical teams to help define and design the product UX. I conduct a lot of applied user research for feature exploration, scoping, development, and refinement. I also conduct human factors design and research including gesture ergonomics and industrial design optimization. My overall focus is on end-to-end physical and digital user experience design.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Design or evaluate human work systems, using human factors engineering and ergonomic principles to optimize usability, cost, quality, safety, or performance.
- Develop or implement human performance research, investigation, or analysis protocols.
- Recommend workplace changes to improve health and safety, using knowledge of potentially harmful factors, such as heavy loads or repetitive motions.
- Prepare reports or presentations summarizing results or conclusions of human factors engineering or ergonomics activities, such as testing, investigation, or validation.
- Inspect work sites to identify physical hazards.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Master's degree (48%)
Master's degree
Doctoral degree
Post-baccalaureate certificate
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Computer Science
Bachelor
Human Computer Interaction
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Psychology, General
Bachelor
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Graduate
Human Biology
Doctorate
Human Biology
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Be willing to push boundaries and challenge yourself to think outside of what is possible.
Always have an undying curiosity. Never settle for what you think is the "best" answer, because there will always be a better one out there.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
Middle School Students
Exercise your brain by looking around you for technology that doesn't work well or frustrates you. How might you change it to improve your own experience or the experience of others? Try starting with your microwave or an email account. What would you make better?
College Students
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
